|
Hope Valley - Wyoming Fire District
Board of Directors
Chairman - Paul Schaarschmidt
Vice Chairman - John Weeden
Board Members - Georgia Ure, Elwood Johnson, Patrick McDonald
Fire District History
In the late 1970's due to well water problems in the Hope Valley area the town of Hopkinton received a grant to study putting in a public water system. A committee was formed once the study was completed to work on the creation of a fire and water district for the area.
Appointed to serve on this committee from the town of Hopkinton was Robert Sousa and from Richmond, Ronald Richard. Chief Stanley and several other officers represented the association. Attorney Richard Panciera, who was a resident of Hope Valley at that time, volunteered to handle all of the legal work at no charge.
The committee, after many months of looking at other districts throughout the state, finalized legislation and had Senator Rob Roy Rawlings submit it to the General Assembly during the 1980 session.
Said legislation and similar legislation for an Ashaway Fire District passed the General Assembly and was presented to the voters of Hopkinton and Richmond. The Act overwhelmingly passed Richmond but failed to pass Hopkinton, as did Ashaway's. Both towns needed to pass the Act before it could take effect.
On August 24, 1982 after several months of hard work by Representative John Gilman and the committee, the Act was again presented to the taxpayers and was passed by both towns with little opposition.
At the first meeting of the newly enacted fire district the following officers were elected as the , fire district's first officers:
Chairperson - George Rathbun
Vice Chairperson - Ralph Woodmansee Director - Thomas Russell
Director - Pasquale DeBernardo Director, - David Weremay
Clerk - Josephine Langworthy Treasurer - Judy Scholfield
Tax Collector - Joan Howard
Fire Chief - Frederick A. Stanley
First Deputy Chief -Thomas Rekowski
Second Deputy Chief - Joseph Rekowksi
Third Deputy Chief - Robert Wilcox
Forth Deputy Chief - Charles H. Niles
The new Board appointed Attorney Richard Panciera as the district's attorney Richard has volunteered his services since the late 1970's and still serves in this position.
In 1983 the association purchased its final piece of apparatus, a 1983 GMC 1000 gpm pumper, which they purchased with the funds from the sale of the old station and remaining Bingo monies and donated it to the district
The Ladies Auxiliary since forming provided the association with outstanding support in assisting with fundraising. running the Bingo's, supplying refreshments at major fires and incidents and donating funds for major projects. They provided the association with all of the funding for the equipping of the Rec. Room when the new station was constructed.
The auxiliary is still a key supporter of our officers and firefighters and are very beneficial to the success of our growing department.
In 1984 following a major chemical fire at Carroll Products in Wood River Junction the district In conjunction with the R.l. Southern Firemen's league purchased a used heavy rescue from North Providence and began equipping it as a special hazards unit/heavy rescue. The league began training officers and firefighters to serve as the areas first Hazardous Materials Team.
In February 1985, after the death of Retired Chief Alexander Smith, the Smith Family donated the base of the original drinking fountain that was located at Depot Square in 1892, this is now the site of the Hope Valley Fire Station at 996 Main Street. The base of the fountain was mounted in front of station and is now used to display flowers in the summer months. The upper section of the fountain still has not been located.
The Alton Volunteer Fire Association, being the only area in Richmond not within a full district at that time, petitioned the district in 1986 to become a part of the Hope Valley-Wyoming Fire District. A committee was formed and on September 7, 1987 the Alton Volunteer Fire Association, its area. and its equipment and station became a part of the fire district.
On September 1, 1988 the district hired its first full time firefighter when they made the fire chief's position a full time position and appointed Chief Stanley.
In 1988 the district became the first volunteer fire department in the state to obtain Class 4 ISO insurance rating for the areas with approved water supplies.
The ISO conducted a second survey of the district in 1997, and again the district received a Class 4 rating. but this time it included the whole district by using tanker relays
The district became the first in Rhode Island and one of the first in New England to obtain a Class 4 rating in unhydranted areas using a tanker relay system.
In 1989 the district presented a proposal to purchase its first ladder truck which promoted much opposition from the community. The proposed l00 foot ladder/pumper was presented to the taxpayers at the July annual meeting with 175 taxpayers present. The vote was 97 opposed. 59 approved, and 19 abstained.
In 1992 the Ladder Truck Study Committee chaired by Deputy Chief Thomas Rekowski again presented a ladder truck proposal to the taxpayers. The committee this time presented a smaller 75foot ladder/pumper with the safety of the firefighters being their primary need for said vehicle.
After much discussion the ladder/pumper passed with only minor opposition. The ladder/pumper was delivered in September 1993 at a total cost with equipment of $440,000.
In November of 1992 the district dedicated its new fully equipped fitness center at the rear of the Hope Valley Station. A grant from the Champlin Foundations, local donations, and all volunteer labor from our officers and firefighters funded this facility.
This was the first of several projects the district was working on as an incentive for the recruitment of new members and the retention of present members.
On July 9, 1993 following the death of Frederick "Butch" Stanley, who was the oldest active member of the fire department at that time, a second incentive program was created, the F.R. Stanley Scholarship fund. This fund, to date, has been very beneficial to members and their families in providing assistance for college and other educational programs.
In 1994 the district took delivery of a new special hazards/heavy rescue truck replacing the 1966 used rescue. This unit was one of the best equipped in the state and was capable of responding to all types of emergencies. This unit also had two support trailers with additional specialized equipment, a 1991 one ton cargo trailer, and a 2002 new 20 foot 5 ton cargo trailer Most of the equipment and the two trailers were funded by grants and donations and also from billing for special services such as hazardous materials incidents.
On July 1. 1996 the district entered into a joint agreement with the town of Richmond.
Richmond-Carolina Fire District, and the Hope Valley Ambulance Squad to jointly share the costs of a 24 hour dispatching center.
The costs of equipping this center were paid for by grants from the Kimball Foundation. Freedom Forum Foundation. and a Federal grant from FEMA.
Prior to said agreement the district and association relied on private answering services and for many years the dispatching was handled in-house by red network telephones located in the Chief's home. officers homes. an several area businesses. The red phones are still in service today as a backup to the E-911 I system and are located at the dispatch center and Hope Valley Station
At the July 1997 annual meeting the taxpayers approved a cash incentive program to reward our volunteers for attending training and calls. To date this program has proven very beneficial in increasing our response time and numbers of personnel who respond.In June 1997 the district purchased a new foam attack pumper with a 1750 gpm pump. 1000 gallons of water. and 50 gallons of Class A & B foam. This unit fully equipped costs $240,000. With our first two units out having Class A & B foam capabilities we have seen a great reduction in fire losses.
In 1998 the district formed a committee to study building on an addition to the main station for expanded office space. In November 1999 the new addition was occupied. This project also included the renovations of the existing rec. room and meeting room to make the station handicapped accessible and to enlarge the rec. room to include a full kitchen. This project was completed including furniture at a total of $120.000.
Much labor was donated in completing this project by the committee members resulting in great savings to the district. The committee consisted of Chairperson David Caswell, Vice Chairperson Gregory Pezza, Robert Goff, Douglas Yattaw. Raymond Bader, Brian Champlin, Joseph Bajorek. and Frederick Stanley.
On October 1, 1999 after several months of reviewing proposals for improving our daytime response and the maintenance of apparatus. the district hired its second full time firefighter, a mechanic/driver. This position was filled by Captain David Dumsar who was well qualified for said position having served as an active officer and member since 1984.
In 1999 the district began a fundraising campaign to purchase a thermal imaging camera for $18,000. Due to the outstanding support of the community within a few months the district was able to purchase two cameras with remote viewing. One was installed in Ladder 911 and the other on Engine 912.
The first camera was purchased shortly after starting the campaign due to a $12,000 donation from Kalpesh Shah. President of Connecticut Fibers, Inc. The second camera received a big boost when the Robert B. Goodwin Family donated $10,000 in his memory. The remaining funds came from local residents. businesses, and other organizations.
Through the support of our community and several area private foundations our volunteers are some of the best protected in the state when performing their duty.
On March 9. 2000 the district suffered another great loss when the chairperson of our Board of Directors. Henry "Skip" Kenyon. died .
In 2002 the district purchased two engines; a 2002 Pierce Dash and 2002 International outfitted by Pierce.
In 2005 thanks to a federal grant of $216,000 the district was able to purchase a 2005 International tanker outfitted by Pierce. The tanker carries 3,000 gallons of water and two large folding tanking which are needed at fires in areas where there are no hydrants.
In 2007 the district purchased a 2007 Pierce Enforcer special hazards which was needed due to the large area the Hope Valley Haz-Mat team covers. The Hazards is equiped with two sets of Hurst cutters and speaders, various Hurst rams, ice/water rescue equipement, high and low angle rope rescue gear, an air cascade system and more sepcialized equipment.
2010 Floods: After several days of constant rain, Southern Rhode Island began to flood. Firefighters would spend the following days responding to water rescues and water emergencies non stop. All while a river was running through the bays of Station 9.
In 2012 the Hope Valley-Wyoming Fire District celebrated its 30 anniversary and the Hope Valley Fire Association celebrated it 70th anniversary
In the summer of 2012 the district purchased a 2012 Pierce Saber which replaced an aging 1997 Pierce Saber. The new engine had a 1750 GPM pump and held 1000 gallons of water. A major addition to this engine was the "Pump & Roll" feature, allowing firefighters to pump the truck while driving (at low speeds). A remote front bumper turret was also added which coupled with the "Pump & Roll" proved to be an asset in knocking down exterior fires as crews stretched handlines.
In 2017 the district recieved a grant to purchase a box truck for the Haz-Mat Team. The purpose of this box truck was to replace the old enclosed trailers and streamline our response. By late summer the Freightliner box truck had arrived and members began outfitting it to the needs of the team.
Follow the Link below to read about the Fire Company's history.
http://www.hvwfd.org/content/firecompany/default.cfm
|
